The idea of sending humans to Mars is becoming less of a fantasy and more of a reality. Companies from around the world; ranging from dutch entrepreneurs to government funded companies are taking on the “21st century’s space race”. The technological requirements for sending humans to Mars has been around for years. The real problems narrow down to funding and finding the right crew for this expedition. Applications for partaking in the “Mars-One” project were submitted from people around the world. Partaking in this one-way trip to a land unknown by humans has its harsh requirements, but many are already met natural if you live a healthy, active life. Whatever lifestyle you live, knowing that when you partake in this expedition that you’re not coming home would take a psychological toll on anyone.

The space agency, Mars-One, seems to have a lead against other companies in the race to get humans on Mars. Their first manned flight is speculated to occur in 2031. This journey from Earth to Mars will take approximately 7 to 8 months. Sending the first crew to Mars will cost around 1.2 billion dollars, but this does not include everything else that is needed for the mission. The mission will also have to send an unmanned lander, rover, communication satellite, and resupply missions. With all requirements combined, the mission would cost upwards of 8 billion dollars. A good majority of this cost is funded by donations from countries around the world who donate every year. Mars-One also has merchandise for sale to raise money for the cause. You can find these items here: https://community.mars-one.com/webshop

A good chunk of people who apply to embark on Mars-One are capable of the journey, but it really comes down to the best of the best going because of the insane amount of people who applied. Of the 200,000 who applied, 100 of them are now in the third round of selection. That means that if you applied, there was a 0.0005 chance of you making it to the third round. Aside from the sheer discouragement of numbers, the requirements are not necessarily strict. You need to be 18 years old with 20/20 vision and no drug dependence/psychological disorder. With enough commitment and luck, you could go to Mars.